Page 18 of Sex Positive

Sliding into the empty chair across from him, she folds her arms on the table. “How long is Theo in town?”

“Why?” He arches a brow. “You want to sleep with him next?”

“Would you rather I sleep withyou?” she snaps.

His eyes flash, his smile turning positively wicked. Leaning forward, he crosses his arms, mirroring her position. “I would never suggest anything so boring assleeping, Rogers.”

Molten heat unfurls in her veins, her face warming when his eyes dip briefly to her lips.

Flattening her palms on the table, she quashes the images her mind conjures. “I need you to introduce me to Theo.”

He leans back in his chair again. “Why?”

“I want to ask if he’ll bring Victoria on his podcast so she can talk about the clinic.” A flash of surprise flits across his face, enough for her to push forward. “I think it could be an excellent way for us to get some national attention. She can speak about how we benefit our patients, all the good we do in the community in terms of sexual health and education, and talk about how people can donate and lend support. Theo has a wide reach, doesn’t he?”

Wes’s brow furrows, his mouth pursed in consideration. “I don’t know all the details, but I think so.”

“It won’t be enough to save us, but I’m positive it will be a start.” She takes a breath. “Please, Quinn?”

He studies her for long enough that she shifts in her chair. The door to the courtyard swings open, and a gaggle of students emerges, laughing about something as they gather at a table nearby.

“What do I get in return?”

She stares at Wes’s unwavering expression, a coil of dread unfurling in her stomach. “The knowledge that you’re helping an important cause?”

“God, you’re adorable.” He flashes a saccharine smile. “Why don’t you use that big brain of yours and think alittleharder.”

Charlie swallows, never taking her eyes off him.

She knows what he wants. And she suspected it would come to this.

Throwing back her shoulders, she tightens her ponytail, her unruly curls threatening to break free from her hair tie. He follows the movement, his knowing smile growing wider.

“Fine.” She clasps her hands in front of her like she’s about to make a very important deal. Technically, thisiswhat she’s doing. And she hates it. “In exchange for introducing me to Theo, I will give youoneLSAT tutoring session.”

“Five,” Wes says.

She scoffs. “Three.”

“Deal.”

He grins, and shehateshow warm it is—like sunshine breaking through the clouds—and it’s just how she remembers, the smile she always liked most of all.

On the outside, she is calm, unruffled by this turn of events and his willingness to agree to her terms.

On the inside, her body sings, her heart thrumming with success, with dizzying relief, with something that feels likehope.

He extends a hand, and after only a moment of hesitation, she shakes it. His skin is warm, and she feels the scrape of callouses on his palm. Her body fizzes when he slides his fingers from hers. A vision of those hands appears in her mind, fingers dancing across her skin, pulling gasps from her mouth.

She blinks, punting the image away.

He stands, stretching his arms above his head, his shirt lifting to reveal a strip of flat abdomen. Charlie averts her gaze, helpless against the heat rising to her face.

“You have to actually put in some effort to tutor me, by the way.”

She looks up and meets his gaze. Shoving his textbook in his backpack, he zips the front pouch before slinging it over his shoulder.

“I will,” she says. At his skeptical look, she raises her brows. “Ipromise. I don’t do anything by halves, remember?” She smiles sweetly.